Needs A Little TLC (Spinning Hills Romance 2) by Inés Saint Page A

blazing.
    He folded his arms. “Didn’t you read the addendum on the contract I sent over before you signed?”
    “I haven’t yet signed.” She folded her arms, too.
    Sam ran a hand through his hair. He didn’t have time for this, and normally, that would be exactly what he’d say. But he was impressed with the fact that she’d already booked stagers. His respect for her as a professional grew. She was on it, and that was exactly what he needed.
    “I need to be fair, Cass. They’re good people. I wouldn’t have hired them if they weren’t. They understood I was giving you the bigger share because you have ties to this town. Also, you’re new enough to this market that you don’t have any other properties in town and you’ll be able to devote more of your time. They each already have a few other properties here. But I need you to understand, too.”
    She dropped her arms. “Okay, that makes sense, no need to get all huffy. I’m not unreasonable,” she said, as if she hadn’t just shot daggers at him with her eyes. “We’ll be working together, after all, showing each other’s listings to potential clients, meeting at closings, and splitting commissions. I don’t want to get started with them on the wrong foot. I was just overreaching, but I know when to pull back.”
    Sam bit back a smile and she caught it. “I’ve changed,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “And we agreed not to talk about the past.”
    Sam held his hands up. “I didn’t say a thing.”
    After a more thorough and far more enjoyable tour of the mansion than he had time for, Cassie took a seat on the bottom step, pulled a small laptop out of its sleeve, and began typing.
    He looked at his watch. “What are you doing?”
    “Typing.”
    “I can see that, but we have six more properties to visit.”
    “I know, but before we do, I want to better understand your mission. I’m not just going to be selling your houses, Sam. I’m going to be selling the town and your vision. My clients find me because they don’t want to just buy a house, they want to find a home by becoming part of a community. These houses and this town aren’t for everyone, you know.”
    With a relief he hadn’t felt in ages, Sam sat down, set his hands gently on her shoulders, and looked down into her startled eyes. “That’s it, Cass.”
    “What’s it?” she asked, staring back.
    Sam knew he should let go of her shoulders, but he couldn’t. He needed her on his side, needed to make her see. The words stumbled out clumsily. “I’ve read your blog. You get the heart and soul of each community. Do that here. Help me keep Spinning Hills’ character intact. I don’t want the crazies to turn it into one of their trendy up-and-coming bubbles.”
    Cassie bit her lip and smiled up at him. “Care to elaborate on that just a little bit more?”
    Her sweet gaze was back. He let out a low, breathy laugh and shook his head. “Jake calls some of these suburban parents the crazies .” He looked into her eyes again, studying her reaction, needing to convey how strongly he felt about it all. “Do you know who built the gazebo and who painted the bridges?” When Cassie shook her head, he continued. “We did. Town residents. And we had a hell of a good time doing it. We didn’t put a levy on a ballot to raise property taxes and hire others to do it—we came together and did what needed to be done.”
    Cassie’s smile lit up her face, and, unable to look at her without feeling close to her again, Sam stood up. “The moment our school district was rated excellent, people started buying up houses, and some became involved by trying to turn the town into something it’s not. They wanted to pass ordinances on landscaping, put up trendier signs, and ban certain colors on houses. Mr. Evans painted his house purple in protest. And that’s part of what Spinning Hills is, you know? A purple bungalow on a hill. An overgrown lawn here and there. I want to keep the crazies